Improvement in brick-machines



tltttrnt delitti.

DAVID J. HUNTER, 0E EXETER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Letters Patent No. 96,920, :dated November 16, 186i).

` IMPROVEMENT IN BRICK-MACHINES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all to whom these presents shall come:

Be it known that I, DAVID J. HUNTER, of Exeter in the count-y of Rockingham, alid Stato of New Hampshire, have originated an invention of a novel and useful Brick-Machine; and do hereby decla-re the following to be a full, clear, aild exact description thereof, due reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ot' tllis specification, aild iu which- Figure l is aplan,

Figure 2, a sectional side elevation,

Figure 3, an eiul elevation, and

Figures 4 and 5 are vertical and transverse sections cfa machine embodying lily iliveiitioil, the latter section heilig taken through the brick-pressing moulds, to he hereinafter explained.

,lhe invention embraced in the description herein to follow, and which comprises the subject-matter of' this` patent, is a machine for moulding and pressing bricks from raw clay, the principle sought li mali.- ingthe invention being to reduce the complication of parts and uncertainty of action lleretofore existing in machinery of like character, the machine devised by myself, as will be seen, being very silliple and economi-v cal in construction, und positive and regular, as well as certain in operation. Y

My present invention consists,l iirst,in the employmeut ofa large upright cylindrical tu h or chest, mounted upon or witliili a strong frame of proper construction, the illterior of t-lle tub heilig provided with a revolvillg cylinder or agitator and mixer, which carries, at its lower part, a gate for alternately opening and closing two orifices Iliade through the bot-tom of the tub at opposite points in its area, such gate serving to guide and direct the clay into sliding moulds disposed below these orifices, as hereinafter explained, a pair of plungers, operated by a suitable mechanism, heilig combined with each mould, to compress the clay with'- iii it, and a reciprocating block or ejector being situated above each nlonld, to advance the brick, as it emerges therefrom by the action of the ascending plunger,'the wllole heilig as hereinafter fully referred to and ,explained; various accessories to the above general features of tli'e machine heilig, in their place,

duly described.

l'n the drawings-,to which allusion has before been made as accompanying this specification, and which illustrate my invention, the clay-receiving tub orc-liest is represented at A as an upright hollow cylinder, the bottom of the tub being an elevated plat-forni, 13 niakf ing part of a suitable t'l'alllc or structure, C, for vslipporting the operating-parts of the machine., this structure or frame being coliiposed of side posts, D D, and a cross-board or staging, E, the latter, which serves to steady the tub, being disposed'at about two-thirds the height of said tub, and forming a walk for the conveiiielice of the operatives employed about the machine.

VVithin the tub A, I dispose a perpendicular` revolv -ing drinn or mixer, F, preferably of the form of a collie frustuln, the diameter of the hase of this drum being about three-fourths that ofthe iliterior of the tlib.

The drum F is supported upon an upright shaft, G, extending 'through the bottom ofthe tub, aiid stepped witllin a suitable block, H, erected upon or witliin the substructure of the machine. A

The drum Fis guided at top by a journal, a., extending from its centre and through a cross-bar, b, spanning the top of the tub. i

The bottom ofthe drum F is closely contiguous to that of the tub, and has affixed to its edge a segmental flange or wing, c, which extends therefrom to the wall of the tub, and revolves with the druln directly over the bottoni of the tub, the ofiice of this ange being to direct portions of the cla-y alternately into two orifices, d d', made through the bottoni ofthe tub at diametrieally opposite points,.the length of these orifices being equal to the width of the annular space intervening between the bottomot' the drum F, and of the walls of the tub.

The advance portion, e, of the flange or wilig` c, is inclined upward, in order to insure the passage of clay underit, the length of this segmental flange beiligless tliali a semicircle, for the reason that while one orifice is closed by it, the other should be open.

. The moulds or matrices for producing the perfectlyformed brick, are shown at I I', as situated immediately below the platform ory bottoni B of the tub,and opening through it, and upoli opposite sides ofthe centre of said tub,it 4heilig here observed that this machine is a double-acting one, that is to say, its working parts are duplicated upoireach side of its centre. I

The moulds I I are in alignment with, and forni continuations of the orifices l d', before mentioned, the clay, which is pressed through these orifices by the rotary movement of the driiln and its-wing, passing "into the ilier portion of these moulds.

J J are twin horizontal plungers, playing easily within the inner portion of the moulds I I', suoli plungers heilig fixed to or maltingpart of abar, K, strad`- dling the shaft of the drum F, the necessary reciprocating movements of the plungers being elfected by an eccentric, L, mounted upon said shaft F, and disposed between aiid abutting against the inner ends of said plungers.

A revolution of the shaft and eccentric produces alternate reciprocations of the plungers ilito and out of the moulds, each plunger, at theexteut of its outrrd movement, filling the mould, less the length of e brick tobe compressed within it.

While the act-ion of these plungers determines the igth ofthe brick, and thev mould its smaller bulk, e degree of density'of such brick is produced by two her upright plungers, M M', disposed below the fnilds, and travelling in suitable guides or bearings, 7, the upper extremities of 4these plungers playing thin the moulds, as represented, and forming the lttom of the compression-chamber of the same, the dth of these plungers being equal to the length of e brick when compressed.

The vertical reciprocations of the plungers M M e effected by two wiper-cams, N N', revolving withslots, O O', formed in each, these cams heiligl ountcd upon .a horizontal transverse driving-shaft,

, extending across the machine-frame, and supported bearings, .y g, made in its side posts, D D, an anti- .ction roller, h, beingeplaced over, and bearing upon e cam, such roller being pivoted within the plunger, ld supporting its weight; the object of introducing ich roller at this point being to reduce the friction hich would otherwise exist between the plunger and I have shown the disposition of the moulds, and s their compression-chambers are composed of open ots, 1 must provide a cover or top to suoli mould, being seenthat the plungers M M' serve as movable ittoms to the sarne,it being necessary that the )ver should also be mo vable, in order to allow of the (pulsion ofthe brick t'romthe mould, after compreson therein.

To provide this movable cover, I dispose, upon the p of the platform B, and over each orifice or open iouth of the compression-cliambers of the moulds, a iding gate, k', the proper intermittent movements :"tbese gates over and away from the mould-openings sing effected through the agency of a vibrating lever, or l', pivoted to the rear part of each, the lower end teach lever being. mounted upon a rocker-shaft, Am r m', supported in bearings, n n or n n', erected upon 1e foundation or flooring ofthe machine, such rockeriafts in turn being actuated by a wiper-cam, V or V', xed to the driving-shaft of the machine, and upon pposite sides of the drum-shaft G, each wiper being nclosed within a forked arm, p or p', fixed to the mer end of each rockerfshaft, the arrangement of arts being such that a revolution of the wiper shall npart to the rocker-shaft a partial revolution through small arcof a circle, the extent of this movement eing suflicieutto force the gate or cover in one di- :ction over, and to close the mouth of the mould, and i i the opposite direction suiiciently .to entirely open uch mouth.Y

The outer extremities of the gates k k should be upported in guides, q or q', while, to their upper surice,-I have secured an inclined bed or bearing-surice, Ir r', to the anti-friction roller, this inclined bed eing applied in an adjustable manner, in order to ary the degree of pressure ofthe gate upouthe plat- )rm l about the mouth of the moulds, this depresion ofthe gate being effected byu-allers, s s', placed ver them, and mounted yupon shafts, tt', ext-ending' hrough the machine-frame, as represented, the iiilined beds r fr scrvin g as bearing-surfaces between the ate and roller, and, as-before remarked, enabling the ressure ofthe gate about the mouth of the mould to e varied, in order to prevent escape of clay thererom-under all conditions.

rlhe portion 3, of the cam N', in practice, should be segment of a circle, of somewhat larger radius than `ne struck from the axis of Vthe cam, in order to releve the brick from the pressure of the plunger M', nd allow the gate It to slide easily over it in the act if uncovering the mouth of the mould;

Rotary motion is imparted to the drum F by a evelled gear, R, fixed to the lower part of its shaft,

this gear meshing into, and receivingmotion from a. second bevelled gear, S, mounted upon the drivingshaft P.

The form of the cams O O' is-exhibited plainly in fig. 5 ofthe accompanying drawings, as divided s ubstantially into five working parts, numbered respectively frorn l to 5.

The portion 1 composes the smallest diameter of the cam, and is concentric with i-ts axis, this portion of-t'he cam serving to support 'the plunger Mwhen at itslowest position, the upper surface of the plunger at this time forming the bottom of the compressionchamber ofthe mould, and being in the same horizontal plane with the bot-tom ot' the horizontal plungei's .I J', the wing c, at thistime, being in the act of covering the oritice d through which its daring portiorI has forced the clay.

The next portion of the cam, in order of rotation, or that marked 2, departs at a. tangent from the axis ofthe cam, to such an extent as to elevate the plunger M within the compression-chamber of the mould, until its upper surface is level with that of the hori-A zontal plunger J'.

The portion of the cam marked 3 now'begins', such,

part being acontinuation of the greatest diameter of the preceding one, and heilig concentric with the axslof-the cam, in order to give time for the opposite plunger J to begin its movements, this concentric portion .3, ot' the cam, occupying about one-sixth its circumference.

The portion L of the cani is a 'continuation of the portion 3, and departs from the axis o'f the cam at a considerable tangent.; the `otlice of this portion yof the cam being to elevate thc plunger-s M M to a level with the top of the platform B, and into the path of movement of the advancing` gates k It', by which the brick is pushed otf the platform and upon an endless revolving belt, suitably placed to receive it. The latter partot' the portion 4 ot' the cam is concentric with its axis, in order to aid in completing the circuit of the periphery of such caln, and to allow time for the advance ot' a sliding gate, as it pushes the brick from ofio the platform.

The portion 5 of the cam completes its circumference, and joins the termination of the part i with the beginning of part l; this said portion 5 permitting of the descent ot' the plunger, by gravity or force suitably'applied, to its normal or lowest position.

The cams O O are placed diametrically opposite eachother, upon their shaftl); consequently, when the roller of one flange, M, is resting upon the smallest diameter, 1, of its cam, the roller ot' the opposite plunger has mounted and stands upon the apex 4 of its cam.

rlhe above comprises the mechanical construction and organization of a machine, as contemplated by my invention; itsaction heilig as follows;

Taking, as a starting-point, the position of the machine, as shown in the drawings, that is, with the roller of one plunger, or that plunger characterized by the letter M', resting upon the smallest diameter 'l of .its cam, and the roller of t-he opposite plunger M, upon thelongest diameter 4 of its cam, and confining the description, for the present, to the half or side of the lnachiue to the right of the drawings.

Clay, in its crude or raw state, or otherwise, is dumped into the tub or hopper A, in proper quantities, and the machine put in motion.

lhe clay, by the advance of the revolving wing c, is crowded into the inner or first portion a of one of the moulds, or that marked I, through the orifice l,in the bottom of thetub A, and, by the time'the horizont-al portion b', of the wing c, is over, and forms a cover to the orifice d, t-he longest point of the eccentric L, forces the horizontal plunger J inward, and drives the clay before it linto the compression-chamber c' of thc mould I.

roller, elevatcs the plunger with great power, and.

co npresses the brick within themould to the desired extent; such brick, in the present instance, being reduced in thickness to that of the platform or bottom' B of the tub, it being understood that the action of' the wiper-cam V', upon the rocker-shaft vand lever Z', has been such that the gate k'- is now over the mouth of the mould, and serving as atop or cover t'o iis compression-chamber.

Continuing itsrevolution, the-cam does not further actuate the plunger M' until the-portion 4 is reached, but in this interval the wiper V has so -actuated the lever Z', and rocker-shaft in', as to retract the gate Il. from over the mouth of the mould, and leave an unobstructed passage for the compressed brick.

A continuation ofthe revolution ofthe cam through its part 4, elevates the plunger M', within the mould, until the brick, which rests upon it, is brought above the platform B, when the wiper V again actuates the rock-shaft and lever Z', in such manner as to advance thelgate L/and close the mouth'oi` the mould, at the same time pushing the brick in advance of it from olf the platform, and upon a revolving apron or belt, placed in a suitable position to receive it; the gate k thus serving the purpose of' a cover to the mould, and as a means of expelling the brick from the machine. q-

As the said gate completes its advance movement, and both expelled the brick and coveredfthe mould, the cam O' has completed a revolution, which brings us.to,our'starting-point, with the roller vof the plunger M' resting upon the smallest diameter of its cam; it heilig observed that the eccentric .L, after advancing the plunger J', does not again act-nate it until it has 'described a semi-revolution, and strikes' the opposite plunger J, and begins to advance it.

As the two plnngers are connected rigidly, the

advance oi' the one marked J, of' necessity, efiifcts a] retraction of that first mentioned, and marked J'.

Hence, while the cam O is elevating the Aperpendicular plunger M', within the compression-chamber ofthe mould l', the eccentric I, is retracting the horizontal plunger J', and making room for the entrance ofl a new supply of' clay to the inner portion of such mould.

As the eccentric retracts the first plunger J', and begins to advance the second, J, the segmental tia-ngc or wings c,'by'thc revolution of its drum, opens the orifice d. to the entrance ot'clay, and closes the orifice d in time to form a. cover for the samc`against the advance ofl the plunger J.

As the mechanism upon opposite sides or halves of` the machine is a duplicate ot' the other, in construction and operation, it is believed that the above explanation of the. operation of' the machine will be found suiliciently extended and lucid to enable a good .mechanic to build it, it being apparent that when the perpemlicular plunger upon one side of the machinev is "beginning its ascent, to .compress the brick, its fellow-plunger has completed its ascent, and raised` the brick to the surface ot' the platform B. K

I would at this point call the readers attention to the fact that the upper surface ot' the horizontal plungers J J are scored longitudinally, in order to receive any excess ot' clay which would otherwise clog and retard the operation of the machine.

I would also call attention to thc fact that the large diameter vof thebottom of the revolving drum the periphery of such drum, to the more cfiectu` ally pulverize and agitate the clay within the hop per.

The reader will perceive that the operative mechanism of my machine is all disposed below the 110p- `per A, thus avoiding the inconvenient and dangerous devices now generally 'situated over the heads ot' the laborers.

lthough, from the prolixity of' thc above description of the construction and operation of my invention, it is in reality very simple and compact, in comparison with others of' its class, and may be produced at small comparative cost.

Its motionsare all posit-ive in their action, and, as will be -apparent to the reader, the most laborious part of" the work performed by the machine is borne by one cam.

Having thus explained the nat-ure, opc ation, and advantages ot" my invention,

What I believe to be novel and original with myv self', and desire to secure by'Lc-tters Patent of' the United States, is asi'oilows :l y v l. The combina-tion, with the mould-box and its ,sliding cover and vertical plunger, operating in relation to each other as specified, ot'a plunger, arranged to move at right angles with the vertical plunger', and to feed the clay into the side of the mould, substantially as shown and described.

Tile employment, with the mould-box o'f a lnick-machne, of two plungers or followers, operated substantially as described, the onefto feed t-he clay into the side of the mould, and to exercise a lateral pressure upon the mass therein, th'e other to exertan upward. or vertical pressure'-upon-the clay, and to lift the formed brick from the mould, substantially as set l'orth. y l

3. The construction and arrangement of' the vcrtical plunger, the peculiar-shaped cam, which' imparts to the same -its varied movements, and the devices for connecting said cam and plunger, substantially-as shown and set forth.

4. The combination ofl the drum l", and the segmental tlange which it carries, with the clay-hopper, and one or more iced-openings formed in that port-ion of its bottom intervening between the periplieries of the drum and the hopper, and arranged over corresponding fecd-plungers, which carry to the moulds the clay deliveredk at regular inter Yals by the said segmental flange, substantiallv as shown and described. v

5. rlhe sliding cover f'or the mould, and 'oscillating lever for operating the same, in conibination with the wiper, cam, and fbrkcfk arm, which actuate said level', to producethe reciprocating movement of' the mould-cover, said parts being constructed andarranged substantially as shown and described. b. The scoring or grooving the uppcrsurf'aces of the anges J J', to ,permit of' return of surplus clay, when the sameare employed lin connection with the illing-wing c, the whole -being as bcf'ore explained. I

7. As a machine for moulding and pressing bricks, the general arrangement and organization ot' indi-v vidual features hereinbefore alluded to in detail, the same consisting` mainly of thehoppcr A, with its orifices d d', and provided with the drumll and segmental wing c, moulds l I', provided witl1,.the duallyarranged plungers J"M', and gates or covers k k', the said flanges being' operatrd by the cams 0 O', and the gate by the rocker-shaft m, forked arm p, and vbratouv lever l, andthe whole operating in manner and to produce results before set forth.

DAVID J. HUNTER.

Witnesses Faun. Cun'rls, EDWARD GRIFFITH. 

